Texas Confessionals Legalistic on Statistic
By Rev Jack Cascione

 

Spokesman for the Texas Confessionals writes:
"Cascione is wrong. We won't be so bold as to call him a liar, as others have done, because of his ignorance of events many miles from his call, but he is wrong. With the support of Faith Lutheran Church in Plano and Pastors Hill and Frick, a group of confessional Lutherans have begun a third "confessional mission" in Flower Mound, TX. Many others, who sympathize with their plight in being unable to moderate the forces of "Church Growth" mentality in their former parish, have supported these faithful Lutherans with prayer, counsel, time and even gifts. They continue to grow through the power of the Word and Sacraments. See the Missions section of this Web Page for more information on Emmanuel, Flower Mound. And we know where the other two are, also. Mr. Runzheimer and all LCMS Texans deserve an answer. Where are all of Texas' 33 new congregations?"


Reclaim News Replies

It wasn't enough that Reclaim News generated a plethora of statistics about Texas District finances directly from the Lutheran Annual, which the Texas District Vice Presidents claim are erroneous. It wasn't enough that we raised serious questions about the apparent diversion of Texas mission funds.

We have also shown that the Texas District Office has refused to disclose information on the location of 33 phantom mission starts in the past 10 years. But this was not enough for the Texas Confessionals.

Now a spokesman for the shadowy group known as the Texas District Confessionals (http://www.concordtx.org) claims they have three and not two mission congregations.

Yes, we are too far away to see if these locations actually exist but we admit that they did provide three more addresses than the Texas District Office would give to Arlington Attorney, James Runzheimer.

Yes we did misreport the number of Confessional mission congregations, that is, mission congregations that use hymnbooks. But that is just one incorrect statistic out of more than 30 correct statistics published in the article.

Instead of rejoicing over more than 30 correct facts these Texas Confessionals get a little bit too legalistic over the difference of three instead of two missions congregations.

It is no wonder that Texas District President Kieschnick doesn't come to their meetings.


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

June 4, 2000